Founded by original Attack Attack! vocalist Austin Carlile and bassist Jaxin Hall in 2009,┬á┬áCosta Mesa, CaliforniaÔÇÖs Of Mice┬á&┬áMen seemed set to make their biggest steps as a band yet, five years on from their formation, following the introduction of bassist and clean vocalist Aaron Pauley. Tipped to be amongst metalÔÇÖs ones to watch of 2014, the band have called their third album┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ, in reference to the aftermath of 2012 album┬áÔÇÿThe FloodÔÇÖ. From the title alone, you can tell that this is going to be an exciting moment for followers of the band.
ItÔÇÖs unfortunate, then, that ÔÇÿPublic Service AnnouncementÔÇÖ gets the album off to a rather unexciting start. But when it picks up, on second track ÔÇÿFeels Like ForeverÔÇÖ, the combination of Tool-influenced verses and the kind of big choruses that drew former Paramore producer David Bendeth to get involved in the album showing us that Of┬áMice┬á&┬áMen┬áare onto a winner. Their previous metalcore sound is not abandoned, but throughout┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ, they seem to have their eye on rockÔÇÖs mainstream more than ever before, thanks to the clear production of Bendeth and noticeable hints of fellow Californians Linkin Park; the chorus to ÔÇÿYou Make Me SickÔÇÖ sounding more like the first two Linkin Park albums than Linkin Park themselves have done in over a decade.
Of┬áMice┬á&┬áMen┬áshow their multi-dimensional sound on the loud/soft dynamics of ÔÇÿAnother YouÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿIdentity DisorderÔÇÖ, the positive end note of ÔÇÿSpace Enough To GrowÔÇÖ being a breather in a similar tone to ÔÇÿWhen You CanÔÇÖt Sleep At NightÔÇÖ that ended┬áÔÇÿThe FloodÔÇÖ, but with a greater sense of consistency with the rest of the album than the previous album closer. Earlier offerings showed Of┬áMice┬á&┬áMen┬áwriting some strong material, but┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ┬áis the sound of them creating a more fully realised identity of their own. It recalls the nu metal era at the same time as combining it with more modern mainstream rock sensibilities, making sure that it never comes across as overly nostalgic.
Overall, this is an album with both the memorable songs and the crossover potential to promise one of heavy rockÔÇÖs most exciting offerings from the early part of this year.┬áÔÇÿHybrid TheoryÔÇÿ gave Linkin Park the highest-selling debut album of the 21st┬ácentury. It will be interesting to see how far┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ┬ágets Of┬áMice┬á&┬áMen.